Sliding door mounting



E. E. SPORK SLIDING DOOR MOUNTING July 10, 1962 Filed Deo. 14, 1960 INVENTOR Erwin E. Spork United States Patent O 3,042,960 SLEDING DGOR MUNTNG Erwin E. Spark, 115 Bonney Ave., Clayiield, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Filed Dec. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 75,773 Claims priority, application Australia Dec. 17, 1959 9 Claims. (Cl. 16--105) This invention relates vto a sliding door mounting.

The principal object f the invention is to provide a sliding door mounting of novel and improved design which may be made less expensively than present types of door mountings, and which at the same time will be more compact in construction and neater and more attractive in appearance. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention resides broadly in a sliding door mounting having a track assembly adapted to be secured above a ldoor opening, and two or more door hangers adapted to be secured to the top of the door and to be engaged with the track assembly, each door hanger including mounting means adapted to be connected to the door and a pair of disks mounted in iixed vertical relationship to the mounting means and counter-rotatable about vertical axes, the track assembly having spaced front and rear horizontal longitudinal supporting rails adapted to engage under the lower peripheries of the respective disks, the front rail engaging under one disk towards the front of the door and the rear rail engaging under the other disk towards the rear of the door, sliding motion of the door along the track assembly causing the disks to be counterrotated by the supporting rails as the disks move therealong.

Preferably, the two disks of each door hanger are mounted one Vabove the other for rotation about the same vertical axis, `the two supporting rails being at diierent heights corresponding to the lower peripheries of the respective disks, while the mounting means for each door hanger may include a vertical cylindrical stem, the axis thereof constituting the common axis of rotation of the two disks. As a further feature the stem of each door hanger may have a threaded lower end for engagement in a tapped hole in a mounting plate adapted to be secured to the top of the door, rotation of the stem in the tapped hole alfording vertical adjustment of the stem and disks relative to the mounting plate and door. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a front elevational view, partly broken away, showing the upper end of a sliding door secured to a door mounting in accordance with my invention, the door mounting comprising a track assembly and a pair of hangers;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view of the apparatus,- in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 3--3 of FIG. l; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 show, in section, alternative forms of track assemblies.

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Referring initially to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a door `it? having along its top edge near to its ends a pair of door hangers 11 adapted to be engaged with a track assembly 12 adapted to be secured horizontally along a vertical surface of a Wall, architrave or the like above a door opening, the vertical surface being indicated by the numeral 13 in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The track assembly 12 is about twice as long as the width of the door and door opening, while it is of constant cross-section, being suitably an extruded aluminum section. The track assembly 112 has an upper horizontal cover iiang'e 14 with front and rear depending vertical webs 15 and 16, respectively, the front web 15 having an integral horizontal longitudinal upper supporting rail 17 and a similar Ilower closure rail 1S, while the rear web 16 has a similar rear supporting rail 19 at a height intermediate the rails 17 and 18 of the -front web 15. The rear web 16 also has an upper hooked ilange 2li to engage brackets 21 secured in a spaced horizontal series along the surface 13, and a lower contact flange 22 to bear against the surface '13. y

The two door hangers -11 are of identical construction, and each includes a Vertical cylindrical mounting stem 23 having about midway along its length an integral annular collar 24. Beneath the collar 24, the stem 23 has a threaded lower end 25, this latter portion having a diametral hole 26 near to the collar 24. The threaded lower end 25 of the stem 23 may be adjustably engaged in a tapped hole 27 in a mounting plate 28 secured by 4screws (not shown) to the top edge of the door 1t), the lower extremity of the threaded end 25 being located in a recess Z9 in the top of the door. Thus, the stem 2'3 may be rotated to vertically adjust its position relative to the mounting plate 28 and door 10, this rotation being simply eiected by engaging a lever-type pin in the diametral hole 26. The stem 23 vmay be locked indesired vertically-adjusted position by means of a lock t nut 30.

Above the collar 24, there are fitted closely on the stem23 a pair of upper and lower ball-race inner mounting sleeves 31 and 32, each made in two parts, as illustrated, about which outer disks 33 and 34 are rotatable on ballbearings. The upper and lower disks 33 and 34 are identical, being of equal diameter yand each having a reduced diameter lower portion 35. It Will be seen that the upper front supporting rail 17 may engage under'the lower periphery of the top disk 33 towards the front of the door and closely adjacent the reduced diameter portion 35 of the disk 33, while the lower rear supporting rail 19 may engage under the lower periph` ery of the bottom disk 34 towards lthe rear of the door and closely :adjacent the portion '35 of the disk 34. The disks 33 land 34 are restrained against vertical movement relative to the stem 23 by virtue of the upper extremity of the stern 23 being slightly expanded to form a head portion 36, the ball-race inner mounting sleeves 31 and 32 being held rigidly between the head portion 36 and collar 24. It will be seen that the reduced diameter Vportion 35 of the upper disk 33 ensures that the lower rail-engagement periphery of the disk 33 is spaced n from the upper periphery of the lower disk 34 to allow the supporting rail 17 to be located therebetween, the

two supporting rails 17 and 19 being located at equal distances from the axis of the stern 23.

v'If desired, the lower peripheries of the disks 33 and '34 could be provided with engagement washers or other Y Y facing members suitably made of nylon or other wear- Y, not unsightly. VTheV adjustment hole 26 is free from any rotatable about vertical axes, the track assembly having spaced front and rear horizontal longitudinal supporting rails adapted to engage under the lower peripheries of the respective disks, the front rail engaging under one disk towards the front of the door and the rear rail engaging under the other disk towards-the rear of the door, said Vtwo disks of each door hanger being mounted one above the other for rotation about the same vertical axis and said two supporting rails being at dierent heights corresponding to the lower peripheries of lthe respective disks, :sliding motion of the door along the track assembly causing the disks to be counterrotated by the supporting rails as the disks move therealong.

obstructions so that'it may be used to rotate the stem 23 very easily -for vertical adjustment of the door 10 relative to the track assembly 12. The components may be made with a cost, While the entire mounting takes up a minimum amount'of space. When the door 10 is moved along the track assembly 12, thedisks -33 and 34 will be counter-rotated by engagement with the rails 17 Vand 19 so 1 horizontal longitudinal supporting rails at diierent heights that a' smooth rolling .action is obtained, the hangers 11 'being irmly restrained against lateral movement, while it will be seen that the rail 17 will also act as a stabilizing rail to prevent upward movement of the bottom disk 34.

While the illustrated hangers 11 have rotatable disks 33 and 34 of the same diameter, it .will be appreciated that the disks could easily be made of different diameter. Then again, the upper disk 33 could be engaged by a supporting rail on the rear web 16, and the `lower disk 34 would in that Ycase be engaged byV a supporting rail on the front web 15. Furthermore, the disks 33 and 34 could be rotatable about dii'erent vertical `axes instead of the common axis, as described. The track assembly 12 may also fbe subject to many modifications of design, two alternative Vt'orms being illustrated in F-IGS.4 and 5, both being suitable -for lalxing either to a horizontal overhead surface orto a vertical side surface. The track assembly 37 of FIG. 4 has an inclinedV cover flange 38 containing a `central longitudinal groove 39 adapted to accommodate the counter-sunk heads of screws passed upwardly through apertures in the direction of the arrow 4t! in order to secure the track assembly 37 to and beneath a horizontal surface. Alternatively,

.in order to secure the track assembly to a vertical surface against the web 41, screws may be passed obliquely downwards through a side rail 42 in the direction of the arrow l43.` In addition tothe disk-supporting rails 44 and 45,

the track assembly 37 has upper stabilising rails 46 and 47 to prevent vertical lifting of the rotatable disks. Y

The track assembly 48 of FIG. 5 is similar to that of FIG. 4 except that the cover iiange 49 is flat and the web 50 has an inward proti'usion constituting both a stabilising rail 51 and 1a side rail 52. Y Connection to overhead or side sur-facesY maybe made by screws passed in the `directions of the arrows 53 and 54, respectively.

provide apertures in the cover ange 49 to enable access to the heads of the screws. It may be mentioned that the track assembly 12 of FIGS. 1 to 3 may valso be xed to an overhead horizontal surface, if so desired, by passing screws upwardly through the cover ange 14.

The invention embraces a great number of modications and variations which will be readily apparent and be deemed to reside the scope and ambit of my invention, as defined by the appended claims.

WhatIclaimis: Y

1. A sliding door mounting having atrack assembly adapted to be secured above a door opening, andtwo or more door hangers adapted to be secured .to the top of the Y door and to be engaged with the track assembly, each door 2. A sliding door mounting having a track assembly adapted to be secured above a door opening, and two or more door hangers adapted to be secured to the top of the door and to be engaged with the track assembly, each door hanger including` a vertical cylindrical mounting stem adapted to be connected to the door andV having mounted thereon a pair of disks in fixed vertical relationship one above the other and counter-rotatable about the axis of the stem, the track assembly having spaced vfront and rear radapted to engage under the lower peripheries of the respective disks, the front rail engaging under one disk towards the front of the door and vthe rear rail engaging under the other disk towards the rear of the door, sliding motion of the door along the track assembly causing the disks to be counter-rotated by the supporting rails as the disks move therealong. Y Y

3. A sliding door mounting having a track assembly adapted to be secured above a door opening, and two or l more :door hangers adapted to be secured to the top of the door and to be engaged with the track assembly, each door hanger including a vertical cylindrical mounting stem adapted to be connected to the door Yand having mounted thereon -a .pair of disks in fixed vertical relationship one above the other andfcounter-rotatable about the axis of the stem,.the track assembly having spacedrfront and rear horizontal longitudinalsupporting rails at dilerent heights adapted to engage under the lower peripheries of the respective disks, the front rail engaging under one disk Y In the case of side- Y xing in the direction of Vthe arrow 54, it is necessary to Vmotion of the `door along the track towards the front of the door and the i-.ear rail engaging under the other disk towards the rear of the door, sliding assembly causing the drsks to be counter-rotated by the supporting rails as the disks move therealong, the stem havinga threaded lower end for engagement in a tapped hole in a mounting plate adapted to be secured to the top of the door, rotation of the stern in the tappedlhole aording vertical adjustment gf the stem and disks relative to the mounting plate and oor. Y

4. sliding door mounting according to` claim 3, wherein the stem of'eachdoor hanger is provided with a radial aperture aboveits threaded lower extremity for engagement .by a lever to enable rotation to be elcted. 5. sliding door mounting according Vto Vclaim 2, wherein the two disks of each door hanger are mounted on separate ball races having their inner race portions wherein the two disks of each door hanger are mounted on separate ball Iraces having their inner race portions secured to and about the vertical stem one above the other, said 'inner race portions being held between a lower collar on the stem and an upper head portion of the hanger includingmounting means adapted -to be con- Y stem.

7. A sliding door mounting according to claim 1, wherein the two disks of each door hanger are of equal diameter, the upper disk having its lower periphery spaced from the upper peripheryrof the lower disk to `allow the respective supporting rail to be located therebetween, and wherein` the two supporting rails are Ylocated at equal distances Afrom the axis of rotation of the disks.

8. A sliding door mounting according to claim 1, whereinthe track assembly includes one or more horizontal longitudinal stabilising rails adapted to be engaged by the upper peripheries of the disks to resist the tendency of the hangers tol lift vertically relative to vthe track assembly.

9. A sliding door mounting according to claim 1, wherein the two disks of each door hanger have their lower peripheries faced with a Wear-resistant, anti-friction material for engagement with the supporting rails of the track assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schmid Feb. 12, Brown Ian. 15, Hance Aug. 14, King Jan. 14, Holloway et al. `uly 26, Nawman June 9, Labrie Dec. 22,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Ian. 24, 

